St Joseph's boxer Joe Cordina closing in on a medal

ST JOSEPH’S boxer Joe Cordina is just one win away from a guaranteed medal at Glasgow 2014 after cruising into the quarter-finals of the 60kg division.

The Cardiff fighter, who trains with Tony Borg at St Joes in Newport, eased to his second win in two days at the Commonwealth Games yesterday.

Cordina beat England’s Pat McCormack on Saturday and then gained revenge for a recent humiliating defeat to David Gauthier by outclassing the Canadian over three rounds here.

Just ten weeks ago he was stopped by the big punching Gauthier but in Glasgow, Cordina showed why he’s being talked about as a gold medal prospect.

It took less than 10 seconds for the 22-year-old to send Gauthier crashing to the canvas with a stunning left hook and he never looked back.

“David beat me ten weeks ago and I wanted revenge,” said Cordina. “I got him down in the first round – I wasn't planning that, but it just came on to me. I didn't go in for the kill, I just wanted to win.

"When he beat me in Canada my mind wasn't on the job. My grandmother had just passed away and that was the only thing on my mind.

"I always wanted to come to the Commonwealth Games and now I'm really up for it. As long as I keep on learning, and carry on doing what I'm doing, then the medals will come.

"The game plan was to work behind the jab because I knew just how big a puncher he can be. The last time I fought him he just came out swinging and I got caught.

"I'd rate that as a 7/10 performance – there is still more to come."

It was an impressive display from Cordina but he revealed afterwards that Team Wales boxing coach hadn’t told him off during the bout.

"I got a telling-off for the showboating when I got back to my corner. The adrenalin was pumping and the occasion got to me," he admitted.

Jones, who saw gold medal favourite Andrew Selby crash out on Friday, said: “After what happened with Andrew that wasn't what I wanted to see – and I told him so. Joe is an intelligent kid and he did a fully controlled job after that.”

His next opponent will be the impressive New Zealander Chad Milnes, with a possible semi-final clash with home favourite Charlie Flynn in the semi-finals. Flynn comfortably disposed of Australia's Nick Cooney in his first bout.

Fellow Welshman Zack Davies beat Nigeria's Waheed Shogbamu, also via a unanimous decision, to progress to the last eight of the light-welterweight (64kg) division.